The NFL Will Still Get Our Money
August 13, 2021 at 11:11 p.m.
The NFL Will Still Get Our Money
By Chip Davenport-
Prep gridders all over the Hoosier state began what is a welcome change in scenery. Scrimmages and jamborees are the first chance (except for drop-back passing quarterbacks who are exempt from open tackling), to inflict some constructive violence on other kids sporting different laundry.
It’s like being stuck in the house with your siblings for at least a full day saddled with chores, required summer pre-reading, and other “solamente familia” obligations until the point in time where you’re free to roam the neighborhood. You and your siblings finally get the break from each other’s needling and rough-housing, and instead you’re headed to someone who does not share “these four walls” with you.
The NFL exhibition season starts around this time, too.
Collective bargaining agreements, and useful knowledge discovered regarding the limits of contact some of the largest, fastest, most violent combatants can withstand have limited the amount of full contact pro football players can have during preseason practices.
“Bring on the exhibition games” these uber-athletes are thinking and saying.
This time of the year, and the professional football season specifically, brings out another boiler plate comment eliciting a chuckle when I hear it.
“I’ve had enough of the NFL and their (insert political or cultural grievance here). They’re not getting any of my money.”
Yes, they are.
They are getting that money in almost all cases where you’re plugged into tele-media, and even money these folks are spending on streaming.
There are numerous reasons folks are fed up with “the Shield”, a term used for the NFL as an organization. My message to you folks in this mindset is not intended to disparage you. This week’s thoughts will open your eyes to the fact the NFL is still getting your money.
All the major networks rely on their deals with the NFL to keep their doors from being padlocked. The $113 billion agreement covering eleven years (reached in March) will be paid by the networks and streaming applications from your cable, satellite, and streaming apps in the form of your monthly payment along with big tranches from advertising revenue in premium slots.
The NFL sees itself as entertainment more than it sees itself as a sport. They are also a non-profit organization who passes on excess proceeds to the franchise owners, and to the athletes and support staff in turn.
They’ve made changes in their programming from 2023 to 2033 to lay claim to more nights in a sports viewer’s week by adding Saturday night doubleheaders in the final week of the season.
Instead of watching a rigidly scheduled Monday night full season slate, no matter how bad the teams go unexpectedly sideways in the late season, the NFL will flex late season Monday Night Football programming to feature teams headed for a playoff run, or clashes between teams fighting for division titles and home field advantage.
The NFL doesn’t need your money. The networks do. I’ll unapologetically admit, they’re smarter than we are. Their top-tier organization talent is chock full of juris doctorates (lawyers to you and me), and the intellectual horsepower among their staff who watch people’s viewing choices and correlate it with voluminous data for decisions.
They’re almost always one step ahead of us common folk.
Do you think you can outfox that organization and its 32 beneficiaries, billionaire NFL owners, by “not giving them your money?”
Look around at millions of people who have been bamboozled by a billionaire with big losses who has only attained positive cash flow from raising money for PACs on a platform of grievances, conspiracy theories, lawsuits without legs, and a revenue stream from red hats.
It’s important to know I’m a moderate who votes both sides of the aisle for the most qualified, most noble candidates (if I’m lucky to find both in one carcass, especially in local and in state politics). I pray, in the meantime, the extremum from both sides of the aisle don’t take down this nation.
Forbes recently reported the average NFL franchise value has increased 14%, and they are doing so because they already have your money, too.
Prep gridders all over the Hoosier state began what is a welcome change in scenery. Scrimmages and jamborees are the first chance (except for drop-back passing quarterbacks who are exempt from open tackling), to inflict some constructive violence on other kids sporting different laundry.
It’s like being stuck in the house with your siblings for at least a full day saddled with chores, required summer pre-reading, and other “solamente familia” obligations until the point in time where you’re free to roam the neighborhood. You and your siblings finally get the break from each other’s needling and rough-housing, and instead you’re headed to someone who does not share “these four walls” with you.
The NFL exhibition season starts around this time, too.
Collective bargaining agreements, and useful knowledge discovered regarding the limits of contact some of the largest, fastest, most violent combatants can withstand have limited the amount of full contact pro football players can have during preseason practices.
“Bring on the exhibition games” these uber-athletes are thinking and saying.
This time of the year, and the professional football season specifically, brings out another boiler plate comment eliciting a chuckle when I hear it.
“I’ve had enough of the NFL and their (insert political or cultural grievance here). They’re not getting any of my money.”
Yes, they are.
They are getting that money in almost all cases where you’re plugged into tele-media, and even money these folks are spending on streaming.
There are numerous reasons folks are fed up with “the Shield”, a term used for the NFL as an organization. My message to you folks in this mindset is not intended to disparage you. This week’s thoughts will open your eyes to the fact the NFL is still getting your money.
All the major networks rely on their deals with the NFL to keep their doors from being padlocked. The $113 billion agreement covering eleven years (reached in March) will be paid by the networks and streaming applications from your cable, satellite, and streaming apps in the form of your monthly payment along with big tranches from advertising revenue in premium slots.
The NFL sees itself as entertainment more than it sees itself as a sport. They are also a non-profit organization who passes on excess proceeds to the franchise owners, and to the athletes and support staff in turn.
They’ve made changes in their programming from 2023 to 2033 to lay claim to more nights in a sports viewer’s week by adding Saturday night doubleheaders in the final week of the season.
Instead of watching a rigidly scheduled Monday night full season slate, no matter how bad the teams go unexpectedly sideways in the late season, the NFL will flex late season Monday Night Football programming to feature teams headed for a playoff run, or clashes between teams fighting for division titles and home field advantage.
The NFL doesn’t need your money. The networks do. I’ll unapologetically admit, they’re smarter than we are. Their top-tier organization talent is chock full of juris doctorates (lawyers to you and me), and the intellectual horsepower among their staff who watch people’s viewing choices and correlate it with voluminous data for decisions.
They’re almost always one step ahead of us common folk.
Do you think you can outfox that organization and its 32 beneficiaries, billionaire NFL owners, by “not giving them your money?”
Look around at millions of people who have been bamboozled by a billionaire with big losses who has only attained positive cash flow from raising money for PACs on a platform of grievances, conspiracy theories, lawsuits without legs, and a revenue stream from red hats.
It’s important to know I’m a moderate who votes both sides of the aisle for the most qualified, most noble candidates (if I’m lucky to find both in one carcass, especially in local and in state politics). I pray, in the meantime, the extremum from both sides of the aisle don’t take down this nation.
Forbes recently reported the average NFL franchise value has increased 14%, and they are doing so because they already have your money, too.
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